Mustafi to remain or quit Arsenal in January? Arteta announces decision

With the World Cup winner into the final six months of his contract, there have been talks he is surplus to requirements at the Emirates.

Arsenal do not intend to offload Shkrodan Mustafi during the January transfer window, insists Mikel Arteta saying the defender’s immediate future lies at the club.

First-team opportunities have been scarce lately for Mustafi who has played just three Premier League games this season.

No solid news regarding his contract extension plans despite his current one expiring in the summer has given the impression that the German center-back’s days at the Emirates are numbered.

He is free to hold talks with other clubs to negotiate a pre-contract deal, but Arsenal, with Sokratis Papastathopoulos expected to depart and William Saliba having been sent out on loan, are reluctant to part ways with the World Cup winner.

“His future right now is here,” Arteta responded when asked about the future of Mustafi, as Sky Sports reports.

“I’m trying to help. We have Papa that probably is going to leave the club in this window, William that has already gone on loan, so we don’t have that many right now.

“Gabriel’s been out now for a period, David [Luiz] has been injured, so the situation is completely different to before.”